The Scourge of Gambling

A gentleman named Paul wrote in response to a column I did for Sunday's print editions about the gambling woes faced by Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, the one-time Sixer who now serves as an NBA studio analyst for TNT.

Here is Paul's letter:

I am a compulsive gambler and had denied this for over 20 years. I threw away a great career incidentally in the "gaming" industry so I could place bets on sports. I knew the casino was a losing proposition but I thought I could "control" my gambling. Well that "control" led me to prison. In February of this year I was released after serving 19 ½ months for embezzlement crimes against my previous employer (casino out here in Southern California). Thankfully prior to my incarceration I entered Gamblers Anonymous and have been an active member over the past three years. My life continues to get better thanks to recovery and I am not one to take inventory of others because God knows I have my own issues to tend to but I see a great deal of myself in Mr. Barkley in terms of denial and ego. It was my ego that got in my way and kept me from admitting I was a compulsive gambler and my life was completely out of control.

You are 100 percent correct that compulsive gambling needs a public face because the sentiment of "why can't you just stop" persists with problem gamblers. Ninety percent of the U.S. population is within a two hour drive of a casino and anyone who owns a computer can be gambling within seconds. Now with the proliferation of the poker craze so many young people are becoming hooked and with the easy access to gambling along with obtaining credit things are only going to get worse. There is no stopping the gaming industry (hence the name change to the kinder gentler "gaming" as opposed to gambling) but there needs to be the awareness and assistance that is available to alcoholics and drug addicts. In my state of California there are many diversion programs for alcoholics and drug addicts but blank looks persist when a person has a gambling problem. In California the Native American casinos take in more money then the states of Nevada and New Jersey yet a mere $3 million is allocated to address problem gamblers.

I do hope Charles Barkley seeks help because if he doesn't the "I can afford it" aspect of his gambling will soon change that of just chasing his losses if it hasn't already. There are so many stories out there like mine; seemingly "normal" law abiding citizens that turned to crime to support their addiction and I surmise these stories will continue. However; with the awareness and treatment of compulsive gamblers hopefully these stories will diminish.